DarkWeb: What Threats Are Hidden There for Businesses?

Have you heard about DarkWeb? According to Wikipedia, “The dark web is the World Wide Web content that exists on darknets (overlay networks) that use the Internet but require specific software, configurations, or authorization to access.”

It’s the anonymous part of the internet, and you can’t use it with your regular browsers like Chrome or Safari. You can find all kinds of illegal things here, from weapons to sensitive information. Overall, it’s a dangerous place.

Corporate data can easily be targets and in such circumstances, dark web monitoring services become an important security tool. In this article, I’ll tell you how you can save yourself from DarkWeb threats.  Make sure to read it till the end. 

The Danger of the DarkWeb for Business

The DarkWeb is a segment of the Internet hidden from public access. You can get there using special software, such as the Tor browser. The Internet consists of anonymity, and parallel networks, and it is possible because of advanced technologies. 

Tor browser also known as Onion routing is the most common software used for accessing DarkWeb. It has multiple layers of encryption just like an onion skin, thus it keeps everything anonymous. Cybercriminals of various qualifications live in the shadow network. 

They have their forums there, where they discuss fraudulent schemes, ransomware features, and discovered software vulnerabilities. This leads to joining groups, exchanging experiences, creating criminal plans, and promoting hacker products. 

In the infographic, you can see what things DarkWeb is most used for. This includes financial fraud, drugs, and several other things, 

Organizations can be targeted and their stolen databases will be published on DarkWeb. Moreover, current or dismissed employees of victim companies are often involved in such announcements. 

This is another answer to the question of why you can be at risk without deploying activities in the DarkWeb. No company is safe and can end up losing their valuable data if they are attacked. Large companies (retail, banking, government, and industrial enterprises) are especially often affected by cybercriminals’ actions. 

Small companies are at greater risk (they can become an intermediate link in attacks on partner networks). The main trump card of the attackers is that most business owners do not fully understand the danger that the DarkWeb poses to them.

Meanwhile, hacker communities are discussing key trends in attacks using compromised data or aimed at obtaining it. So, now I’ll tell you about several ways that are normally used for invading. 

Using Keyloggers

This type of attack is aimed at obtaining confidential data. By visiting an infected internet resource or opening any dubious link from an email, a tool will be installed on your device automatically that records keystrokes. 

Thanks to it, attackers intercept confidential information (from logins and passwords to payment data). Hackers can easily get their hands on secret information and they’ll remain undetected. The stolen data can either be used for blackmailing or any unethical activity. 

Introducing Viruses

The probability of ransomware viruses increases if the company’s data has been posted on the DarkWeb. They get into the organization’s information system through phishing emails or vulnerabilities discovered by criminals. 

For example, as a result of compromising credentials: login, password, and even biometric characteristics. Companies wouldn’t be able to operate as the ransomware will have full control. 

Another thing, it will be impossible to open files, access databases, etc. Cybercriminals force the owners of the organization to pay ransom to decrypt their data if they oppose the data being leaked to others.

Rootkits are also often introduced to gain control over the target device. Spyware is also quite popular, like the name suggests, it can monitor actions that are being done within a corporate network. 

Ransomware-as-a-Service

Several individuals, who are not qualified enough or don’t have time to independently prepare a malicious payload, opt for Ransomware-as-a-Service.

They rent the code of the ransomware virus, set up an exploit, and introduce malware into the corporate network of the victim organization. After that, they just throw their demand and wait for the mount to be transferred. It’s an easy way to make money with less effort. 

Access Via Partners

It’s like a group project hackers gain access to the infrastructure of the targeted company with their associates, whose security systems may be less resistant to attacks.  

Again the same process is used they just want random and their main tool for breathing in was the same viruses. However, by attacking a compromised partner, the attackers manage to gain access in a much shorter time.

Phishing

Phishing is quite common and people easily fall for it. The user lands on a fake site like an online store and their data is left behind.  The attackers intercept it and then use it for their purposes. Usually, users are met with a message or email from an unknown sender, and it contains malware.

Phishing most often affects companies that make purchases online and receive letters from partners. Attackers are quick to take advantage of this, as they are good at faking well-known sites.

How to Protect Your Company From DarkWeb Threats?

There are several things individuals do to save themselves against such risks. Starting every 90 days, update passwords of important social networks, services, or remote desktops. Always keep a copy of important documents and never open suspicious links, especially if the recipient is unknown. 

Regular software updates will keep your security system strong and paired with multifactor authentication, it would become hard to get by. And most importantly, never use the same passwords for all your accounts. 

These are quite easy to follow, but can be quite beneficial.  However, against the background of a significant increase in digital threats, many of which are hidden on the DarkWeb, protecting the company’s perimeter is no longer enough.

Today, it is necessary to have eyes and ears even in the darkest segments of the Internet to promptly track the publication of sensitive data for the company and planned attacks. DarkWeb monitoring solutions are suitable for this. 

DID YOU KNOW?In 2020, 22 billion new records were added to DarkWeb, and 60% of the information present here can harm globally renowned enterprises!

Conclusion

The DarkWeb remains one of the largest sources of threats to businesses and individuals, providing cybercriminals with a platform to carry out their plans.  

DarkWeb monitoring services can help companies protect themselves and identify threats before they could cause any damage like leaking data to any third party or unauthorized individual. If you are looking for a reliable DarkWeb monitoring service provider, then you should pay attention to ImmuniWeb.

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